Polish troops accused of blowing up house for fun

Euronews

Poland’s military is investigating claims that a group of its soldiers blew up an empty family home in Afghanistan for fun.

If true the act would have been in violation of the Geneva convention.

The probe was launched after a three-minute film of the alleged incident appeared on the internet.

The Polish government says it is not yet clear whether the building was a legitimate target or not.

Poland’s Ministry of Defence spokesman in charge of the mission in Afghanistan Colonel Piotr Lukasiewicz said: “When the hearing (tribunal) of the soldiers who participated in the recording is over, only then will one be able to say if the military rules there on the mission were really violated.”

The incident has become an embarrassment to Poland’s 2,600 strong military contingent.

But if – as the Polish military claims – the soldiers were simply destroying a cache of unexploded ammunition, the action would have been within the rules of engagement.